Metallic fence-post.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904 J. W. ALTMYER.

METALLIC FENCE POST.

APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 10, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

(34M: ewtoz Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT QFFTCEQ JOHN W. ALTMYER, OF SPRINGVILLE, IOWA.

METALLIC FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,371, dated November 8, 1904.- Application filed November 10, 1903. Serial No. 180,605. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. AL'IMYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springville, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Metallic FencePost, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in metallic fence-posts.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofmetallic fence-posts and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one of great strength and durability designed to be constructed of electricallywelded material and capable also of being advantageously employed as a telegraph or telephone pole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic post of this character having a plurality of uprights or standards and connecting-braces and to enable the braces to be connected at different points, so that only two pieces of metal will be joined at the same point, thereby greatly facilitating the welding of such par-ts.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in'the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.-

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a metallic fence-post constructed in accordance with this invention, the lower portion being broken away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the fence-post. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the fence-post on the line 3 3 of Fig; 1.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate corner-uprights, constructed of suitable metal and converged slightly toward the top of the post, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The

corner uprights or standards 1 are constructed of a single piece of stout wire or other suitable material, vvhich'is. bent intermediate of its ends to form an arched top portion 3, while the other standard or member, 2, is bent or bowed over at its upper end to form the curved top portion L. The curved top portion 4 is secured to the arched connecting portion 3 at the center thereof by electrically Welding the parts; but any other suitable means may be employed for securing the uprights or standards together at the top of the post. The standards or uprights are connected at each side of the post by horizontal and inclined braces, and the braces of each side consist of a single continuous piece of wire or other material angularly bent to form the horizontal and inclined braces, the bends being sufficiently curved to prevent the material from breaking thereat.

The bracing 5, which connects the stand, ards or uprights 1, consists of horizontal portions 6 and inclined diagonally-disposed portions 7, which are united or connected with the uprights 1 at opposite sides thereof by electrically welding the parts or by other suitable means. electric welding being preferable and the structure being especially designed for such process or operation. The spaces or intervals between the horizontal braces or portions 6 of the post gradually increase from the top to the bottom of the same,

and in practice the post is preferably provided with eleven horizontal braces,-as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper and lower portions oflthe post being shown in separate figures for convenience of illustration; but any other number of horizontal connecting portions may be employed to provide a post of the desired size and strength.

The side bracingsS and 9, which connect the standards or uprights 1 with the standard or upright 2, have their top horizontal portions or braces located at points or elevations difi'erent both from each other and from the top horizontal brace or portion which conmeets the standards or uprights 1 with each.

other, and each of the horizontal braces of the several sets of bracing is located at a different point, so that only two parts are connected at IOO one and the same point, thereby greatly facilitating the operation of electrically Welding the parts. Furthermore, this arrangement of the braces at different points greatly increases the strength of the post and effectually prevents the same from collapsing.

The lower ends of the uprights or stand ards, Which are disposed in triangular form, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, are connected by Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A metallic post, triangular in cross-section, comprising corner-uprights, and transverse braces extending substantially from the a horizontal wire frame 10 of triangular form; I

but any other suitable material may be employed, as will be readily understood. The bottom connecting or bracing frame is welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the uprights, and the lower portion of the post in practice is designed to be embedded in the ground, and it may be anchored in any desired manner.

The lower end of the post is open to permit posts to be nested, so as to occupy a com paratively small space when they are stored or in transportation.

It will be seen that the post is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction; that it possesses great strength and durability, owing to the trusses formed by the continuous braces, and that it is adapted for use in i all places Where a light strong structure is dcsirable.

top to the bottom of the post and connecting the uprights at intervals, the braces of each side of the post being attached to the adjacent uprights at points between the points of attachment of the braces of the opposite sides of the said post, whereby only two parts or pieces are united at the same point, substantially as described.

2. A metallic post triangular in cross-section, comprising corner-uprights, and connecting transverse braces, the braces of each side of the post being zigzagly bent to form horizontal and inclined portions, and the inclined portions gradually increasing in length from the top to the bottom of the post, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in I the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN W. ALTMYER. Witnesses:

SAML. J AMEs, J r., C. F. BUTLER. 

